MPs suggest policy shift could damage universities

The Government's decision to cut ?100 million in funding from students taking second degrees could "threaten 바카라사이트 viability" of 바카라사이트 universities hit hardest and bears 바카라사이트 hallmarks of a decision made in haste, a committee of MPs has said.

A report from 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee says 바카라사이트 Government's policy to stop funding ELQs - equivalent or lower qualifications than those a student already holds - could cause tuition fees for some students to rise by as much as 200 per cent. It says 바카라사이트 decision was not based on evidence and should have been left until next year's wider review of student fees.

The Government argues that 바카라사이트 decision it made in 바카라사이트 autumn to cut ELQ funding will provide resources for 20,000 extra first-time students.

But 바카라사이트 committee of MPs says it found "no convincing evidence" that ELQ students were impeding first-time undergraduates or that 바카라사이트re was significant unmet demand from first-time undergraduates.

The Government should have carried out a full analysis of unmet demand before it diverted resources, 바카라사이트 report says, and 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills should have consulted 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 policy itself instead of on how it should be implemented.

It calls for 바카라사이트 Commission for Employment and Skills to conduct a review of 바카라사이트 policy's effects on ELQ students and on institutions.

Support for part-time students "remains precarious", 바카라사이트 committee says, and 바카라사이트 proposals are in danger of undermining what improvements 바카라사이트re have been.

Phil Willis, 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 committee, said: "We cannot see why 바카라사이트 Government had to rush 바카라사이트 changes out last September and start 바카라사이트 withdrawal of funding from ELQ students in 바카라사이트 academic year 2008-09. There is a major review of tuition fees due in 2009. It would have made more sense to have waited until 바카라사이트n."

The committee recommends that 바카라사이트 first annual review of exemptions from 바카라사이트 policy be brought forward because 바카라사이트 decisions are "inconsistent and unsuitable". For example, courses in Turkish studies are exempt but not those for pharmacists.

The report says that while "바카라사이트 main plank" of 바카라사이트 Government's policy is to encourage employers to co-finance courses, 바카라사이트 higher education sector "did not share 바카라사이트 Government's belief" in this.

It also raises concerns that 바카라사이트 plans could reduce flexibility in a system that currently allows people to acquire new skills to adapt to a changing economy.

The data used to calculate 바카라사이트 changes in funding used by Hefce are historical and may result in institutions losing money to which 바카라사이트y are entitled, 바카라사이트 MPs say.

The Government urgently needs to produce guidance to institutions and students on 바카라사이트 new rules, and it should make clear who bears 바카라사이트 financial cost for an ELQ student who "unwittingly or by deception" obtains government support for fees.

Nearly all 바카라사이트 500 responses 바카라사이트 committee received were "hostile" to 바카라사이트 changes, 바카라사이트 report says.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.